How To Lie WithMaps (and data)

The myth that economic growth is a requirement for sustainability has no historical basis yet it pervades our culture. Some even claim that maintaining our consumptive American lifestyles is required if other nations are going to become sustainable.

A recent report, Environmental Sustainability Index 2005 (ESI), An Initiative of the Global Leaders for Tomorrow Environment Task Force, World Economic Forum, Center for International Earth Science Information Network, and the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy is one of many recent reports that reassure us that it is okay to maintain the status quo -- that growth and consumption is good (Note that they now have their 2006 report available online at same website. Their maps and data indicate that many of the most industrialized nations in the world are the most sustainable while the poorer nations are not. A very convenient conclusion.

The April 2001 issue of the Ecologist Magazine demonstrates that things are not quite as they seem -- far from it. Their research article (done in partnership with Friends of the Earth), Keeping Score (p.44-47) takes a critical look at the variables, categories, and methodology used to create the ESI and comes up with very different results. (Unfortunately, these links are no longer good and I cannot find archived copies of these articles).

Sponsors

A couple of problems they found include:

The number of members a nation has on the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a positive variable. The problem here is that members of the WBCSD have as much potential to do environmental harm as good.

The number of scientists per capita is a positive variable. The problem with this is that scientists whose work results in endocrine disruptors, nuclear waste, pollution and the like does not do much for sustainability.

There is much much more to the story but Keeping Score is not yet online. I am requesting that The Ecologist put it online or allow me to do so. Better yet, buy the magazine. It should be on the newstands now.

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